There were three segments—recalling the past, looking at the present, and envisioning the future. Each segment received enthusiastic applause from the thousands of students in the audience.Colin was asked to give a speech on the spot as a representative.The university didn't mention this before, so he wasn't prepared. But Colin was a renowned lecturer at Jesselton College. With a less than ten-minute speech that was both inspiring and motivational, he successfully energized the crowd.Most students, who had heard of him but had never seen him in person, went wild with their cheers.Even after he returned to his seat, they were still shouting his name.After the ceremony, the university held a reception in the cafeteria. There would be performances in the open-air venue in the evening.Because of the incident with Jasmine, Colin and I had become well-known figures at Lincoln University. Moreover, the series of paintings I created for the Dreamlight project further boosted my fam
I could guess why Queenie didn't want to attend the gathering. So, I told Colin I wanted to accompany Queenie.Besides, most of those attending would be the guys who would just eat and drink, and I didn't know many people there. It was pointless for me to go. My presence might even make them feel awkward and unable to fully enjoy themselves.Colin teased me, saying that I would rather skip a gathering to become a third wheel for the couple, wondering what I was thinking. But, he didn't insist that I attend the gathering.However, Wesley was having none of it. He said that almost everyone who used to hang out together had come this time, so he didn't want anyone to miss out on this rare reunion, especially me. He insisted that I should attend, reminding me how they had treated me like a younger sister back then. And if I didn't go, it would make them feel like they had failed as big brothers.I didn't quite understand what he meant, but his sincere invitation touched me. I remembe
However, the "I'll see you if I want to" method was so childish. It wasn't something Flynn would do.I responded with a half-hearted "Oh.""'Oh?' Why aren't you worried at all? With Jasmine's personality, she wouldn't go half a year without us hearing something about her. I think she's planning something big. You need to be more careful. We mustn't underestimate that sneaky woman." Queenie reminded me worriedly as she pinched me with her fingertips.I rubbed my sore arm and smiled. "A piece of information from an unknown source isn't enough to alarm us, Mrs. Lambert."Queenie's face turned red. She glanced around to see if anyone was watching, then lowered her voice and scolded me, "There's no smoke without fire. Be more alert, you ungrateful woman. If I weren't worried about you getting hurt, I would've gone to the ice park. ""She's schemed against us so many times before, but she hasn't managed to harm us. We'll handle whatever comes our way. Don't worry. Colin is here, and s
But Wesley, being a bit thick-headed, didn't take my words seriously or understand my intentions. He shook his head regretfully."Speaking of which, Flynn wasn't bad to you. He really cared about you, and those punches of his were powerful. It's a pity, though. Time waits for no one. I was always envious of how good you two were together. Shame. It's such a shame that such a loving couple couldn't make it in the end." He sighed dramatically like it was the biggest regret ever.Seriously, why did he bring that up? Everyone had the same thought, but what was the use of saying it out loud? Him and his big mouth!If he weren't a few years older than me and if the setting were different, I would've kicked him. He was so tactless.I grabbed a small orange nearby before shoving the entire thing into Wesley's mouth without peeling it. He choked so hard on it that his eyes rolled back. At least it stopped him from talking for a bit.I never realized before that this guy could be such a c
Queenie and I took our seats.The lone empty chair opposite us stood out somewhat awkwardly.Was that seat reserved for her? I suddenly remembered the mysterious text message and found myself staring at the empty chair, lost in thought."You don't look well. Are you feeling sick? Did you catch a cold? Do you need to leave early?" Colin noticed my unease immediately. As he leaned in close to whisper those words to me, his warm lips grazed my ear, prompting my heart to skip a beat."I'm fine. Whose seat is that?" I continued to stare at the empty chair.Colin glanced over and replied, "Flynn mentioned it might be Jasmine's, but I..."Before he could finish, a loud voice that demanded attention came from the doorway."I'm so sorry I'm late. Thank you all for waiting. To make up for it, I'll treat everyone to a karaoke session after dinner."The way she spoke exuded familiarity, as if everyone present were her close friends and she was the center of attention, deserving of everyone
Women were always the ones to initiate conversations. Upon hearing this, Jasmine subtly glanced in Colin's and my direction, only to quickly look away. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and somewhat shyly replied, "It's almost ten full months now. The due date is just a few days away. After the baby is born, I'll invite you all. Whatever you want to eat, I'll have the best arranged for you." People around her immediately responded. It was so awkward it was painful.Meanwhile, I felt as if a heavy, wet blanket was smothering my chest, making it difficult to breathe. I struggled to move my gaze away from her large belly."Did she get married?" Queenie asked me."I haven't heard anything.""Neither have I. So, where did this baby come from?""No idea."I had no experience with what a full-term pregnancy looked like, but judging by Jasmine's waistline, it was evident she was quite far along. Based on Jasmine's claim of being ten months pregnant, the baby must have been
He secretly messaged Colin, explaining that he hadn't informed Jasmine and hadn't expected her to come, let alone know how she managed to arrive."Colt, if I had known that damn woman would come, I wouldn't have hosted the gathering. What kind of bullshit luck is this?"Colin glanced at the message and handed me his phone. "Baby, I need to discuss something. Can you talk to him?" he asked.I took the phone and quickly typed a response, "That's how shameless people are. It doesn't matter if others feel awkward as long as she doesn't feel it." "Haha, Lulu, you're really something. You're cursing without saying any vulgar words. This situation is my fault. If that woman dares to do anything, Flynn will be the first to shut her down. Enjoy your food without worries.""Thanks, Wesley."I ate happily without worries. Suddenly, Jasmine, who must have had a mental breakdown, exclaimed in surprise, "Oh, Colin, you're here too! I just noticed you. Sorry for not greeting you earlier. Lon
If she dared touch what was mine, she had to be prepared to face the consequences.I took a sip of juice and suppressed the churning feeling in my stomach. Just as I was about to speak, Queenie couldn't hold it in any longer. The moment she opened her mouth, her sharp tongue lashed out like a knife."There's some truth to that. Even if Lulu doesn't care, she won't stoop to arguing with a dog. What's the saying again? Right! You don't bite the dog that bites you. It makes sense, no?"Flynn, who had been lounging lazily since the beginning of the meal, was taken aback by Queenie's words. His eyes quickly flashed with surprise before darkening to an unfathomable depth.This was probably his first time seeing this side of Queenie."Queenie, this has nothing to do with you. Don't get involved. You're the dog!" Jasmine, finally losing her fake smile, was infuriated after being insulted.Being called a dog in front of so many people was indeed humiliating.The few people who had been t
Luna furiously scolded me, asserting that I didn't deserve Queenie's love and that Queenie had been blind to my true colors all those years. Driven mad by desperation, I chased after Queenie, determined to tell her I was wrong and plead for another chance to prove myself. However, the young man intervened, delivering a swift and punishing combination of punches and kicks that knocked me to the ground. Humiliated, I struggled to get up and fight back, unwilling to lose to another man.Despite his youthful appearance, the look in his eyes as he glanced at Queenie was undeniable. It was a blend of love, desire, and possessiveness only a man could understand.I was consumed by the thought that he wasn't worthy of my precious Queenie's love.Nevertheless, my body felt heavy and powerless. It was as if the strength had been drained from me. The blows rained down on me, bringing with them a strange sense of relief amidst the pain. Part of me yearned for him to kick me harder, inflict
I wanted nothing more than to run to Queenie, to hold her tightly and tell her how much I missed her during those endless days apart. I wanted to kiss her deeply and feel the warmth of her embrace. I called out, "Queenie, I'm here."Seeing me seemed to jolt Queenie from her joyous state, replacing it with a vacant expression. Mere moments before, she had been smiling brightly, her eyes aglow with happiness. Now, she appeared lost, her initial elation dissipating into a blank, unresponsive gaze.I couldn't understand why she had turned so distant upon seeing me. The love and joy that once shone in her eyes were nowhere to be found. As I observed her, I wondered if our time apart had caused her to forget. Or perhaps the events of the past had wounded her so profoundly that she had stopped waiting for me.The thoughts terrified me, and I dared not ask for fear of confirming my suspicions. All I wanted was to hold her, kiss her, and tell her how much I missed her. Yet, it seemed tha
I had no interest in Daniela's pregnancy, so I kicked her out of the house. My friends came to console me, each expressing their sympathies with a drink because they didn't know how else to comfort me.The money I had sent to Queenie's account was quickly returned as the account had been closed. Her phone number became unreachable, and when I sought her at her parents' home, I found the elderly couple waiting anxiously for their daughter's return. I lost not only Queenie but any connection to her. I grew disinterested in everything, neglecting my company and spending my days in a drunken haze.Then, my uncle came. We drank through the night as he shared tales of his hardships, the painful memories of his mother, and the years he spent alone, suffering.He said, "Everyone has their fate, Flynn. And choosing one thing often means losing another. Just as you've chosen to fight for the family business, you've sacrificed a part of yourself. But you must rise and fight me with all you'v
Queenie would then jump off the cliff, leaving me to jolt awake in a cold sweat. I endured each twilight in my hopeless vigil, counting down the days.On the 75th day, the door finally unlocked. I stepped outside and realized that this was the neighborhood where Queenie and I lived. All this time, we had been mere yards apart.My mom truly knew how to break a person's spirit. All I had to do was lift my head to see the pomegranate tree planted in our yard.I stumbled toward our home, my wounds screaming as I desperately called for Queenie. But the immaculate house stood eerily silent, echoing my footsteps like thunder.Except for Queenie, every possession remained meticulously in place—the exquisite clothes, expensive jewelry, and designer cosmetics.Queenie was gone, and the thought of losing her drove me into a frenzy.I collapsed in the middle of the room, sobbing uncontrollably. Regret consumed me. I should have never let my family's threats manipulate me and left Queenie to
I clenched my fists, barely resisting the urge to rush over to Queenie's side. All I wanted was to embrace her and whisper assurances that I would protect her, always. But I knew I had no right to do so.My dad's threat hung heavy in my mind, and the stares of Daniela and her mother bore into Queenie like daggers. One wrong move or word and those blades would descend upon Queenie, cutting her to shreds.The pain was unbearable. I felt sorry for Queenie. I was powerless and couldn't help her. With all my heart, I wished for her to stay strong and survive. She deserved better than me. Daniela's mother slapped Queenie, calling her a whore and a homewrecker, accusing her of seducing other people's boyfriends.Queenie stood rigidly, her gaze filled with humiliation. Her lips trembled, and the light in her eyes gradually faded.I winced in agony but held myself together, picking up Daniela and walking away.Countless times afterward, I berated myself for choosing to take Daniela away
We both knew the truth—neither of us could cross the chasm that had formed between our hearts.After that, I went home almost every day. We managed to maintain a semblance of normalcy in our day-to-day lives. We prepared sumptuous dinners and tended to our garden. I even considered adopting a pet to keep Queenie company while I was away.However, no matter how hard we tried, we couldn't rekindle the warmth we had once shared. Queenie hardly smiled anymore. No matter what I did to cheer her up, she would only give a half-hearted smile, her eyes remaining cold and distant.I knew something had transpired during our separation, but she refused to discuss it. My attempts to uncover the truth through private investigators were in vain. Any evidence had been meticulously erased.Eventually, I realized Queenie was simply biding her time, waiting for the moment when she would be forced to relinquish all hope and leave.A month later, my mother joyfully told me that Daniela was pregnant an
I grabbed a brush from the bathroom and scrubbed myself furiously, desperate to wash away the overwhelming sense of filth. Even as the rough bristles tore into my skin, drawing blood and causing searing pain, I felt no closer to feeling clean.My mind was consumed with thoughts of Queenie and the nearly five years we had spent together—the happy moments, the arguments, every single memory.At that moment, I realized I was terrified. Never before had I experienced such abject fear. Knowing Queenie's uncompromising stance on love and fidelity, I knew she would never forgive me once she discovered my transgression.She would undoubtedly turn and leave, heedless of any pleas I might make. I probably wouldn't even have the courage to ask for her forgiveness in the face of her justified anger.I regretted everything. If I had listened to my friends and taken Queenie away from all this, none of this would have happened. But I had hesitated. Even now, I couldn't be certain if my hesitati
Yesterday afternoon, my dad called and demanded that I make a decision within two days, or they would take action.I felt cornered because I genuinely didn't know how to talk to Queenie about this. The mere idea of her packing her belongings and leaving, accompanied by the unspeakable anguish it would inflict upon me, was a burden too heavy to bear.I wasn't sure if I could ever have a semblance of normality in my life again after that.So, I gathered some friends to drink with me. I drank heavily because I had made a decision—a disgraceful, heartless decision. The thought of what I would have to face the next day made life seem hopeless, so I drank even more.Before losing consciousness, I handed my car keys to my assistant, using my last bit of clarity to tell him to take me home no matter what state I was in.Even if it meant returning to the Hayes family's residence, he should not leave me out on the streets. Despite the imminent breakup, I wanted to part ways with Queenie in
My mom proved to be even more ruthless than my dad. She found me, dropped to her knees without a word, and begged me. She reminded me of the years they had spent raising me, pleading that I ensure they wouldn't be left without a sense of security in their old age.In essence, they were pressuring me to abandon everything. I was to pursue money and power for their sake, secure the Hayes family's head position, and ensure our grip on wealth and influence. Their priority was maintaining their luxurious, elevated lifestyle. My happiness, my desires—whether I even wanted those things—meant nothing to them. Sometimes, it felt like I was nothing more than a tool for achieving their ambitions.My dad told me bluntly that he would go after Queenie if I didn't comply. He said, "You're right. I'm incapable of outmaneuvering your uncle. But no matter how incompetent I am, I can easily make Queenie's life in Harveyton unbearable."To be honest, that day was the coldest my heart had ever felt